Intermittent fasting might be great for weight loss, but it also has these 6 side effects

Fasting is usually related to what we eat, but that’s not the case with intermittent fasting. Because when you take up this diet, it’s when you eat that becomes important.

Intermittent fasting involves fasting for a certain period and eating only during a specified window. Now, we are sure that you have heard about the many benefits of intermittent fasting—such as weight loss, reducing inflammation, improving digestion, and reducing bloating. 

There is no wonder then why intermittent fasting has become so popular. That said, a few side effects of intermittent fasting also exist. So, if you are thinking of adopting this diet, read this first: 

1. You might end up feeling hungry all the time

This is the most common side effect of intermittent fasting. By restricting your eating window, you are also reducing the amount of nutrition you take in. As a result, you may feel hungry all the time. However, some people can also experience a loss of appetite.

2. Cravings are a reality of intermittent fasting

When you restrict your food intake and declare a particular time of the day as a fasting window, you end up thinking about food which leads to cravings. This happens because your body tries to adjust during the fasting period. Not to mention, fasting means a reduction in calorie intake, which leads to an increase in the stress hormone, hunger hormone, and irritability. 

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3. You may also get a sleep disorder

Although many studies suggest that intermittent fasting can help sleep sleep better, in the long run it can be responsible for affecting your REM sleep (which helps in improving memory, mood, learning capacity) and also reduce the quality of your sleep. 

4. You may get frequent headaches

Dizziness, lightheadedness, and headache can occur for multiple reasons—and fasting is one of them. Intermittent fasting may make you feel sick, and depending on your fasting period, you may also experience headaches.

5. Intermittent fasting can leave you constipated

Your body produces acid to digest the food. But when you’re not eating properly, it results in constipation which is marked by symptoms like fewer bowel movements, painful defecation, bloating, and/or heartburn. 

6. It may also cause hair loss

If you’re experiencing hair loss problems, then it could be related to your fasting, While fasting we restrict our calorie intake, as a result of which our body doesn’t get the required nutritional content, especially B vitamins and protein—which are important for your hair health.